BIM-EL Counter-regulation by BCL2-α Leads to Resistance development to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Lung Cancer

Introduction: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are important therapeutic agents in the treatment of lung cancer. These drugs have been reported to inhibit cancer growth in a small population of patients. It has also been observed that patients develop resistance after exposure to the drugs. In this study we sought to establish the role of the BCL2 family proteins in resistance development to TKI. It has been reported that TKI induce apoptosis in cancer cells through the activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. This process is mediated by BIM, a BCL2 pro-apoptotic protein. In this study we sought to determi…